bus-ku
great big yellow bus
new shoes bouncing kids drivers
joy tears school’s coming
—
‘you can find poetry in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart.’
-carol ann duffy
Sep15
Tag Archives: school
Jun14
say anything.
“I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed.” That’s Lloyd Dobler, played by John Cusack in Say Anything, explaining his future plans to his girlfriend’s father.
—
’tis the season of graduations, transitions and celebrations
when people
little and big
complete their
middle school, high school, college, post-grad
school years
they will be asked
many times
what do you want to do next?
most do not yet have an answer
or
will come up with
whatever comes to mind
they just need a minute
to take a breath
look back
at what they’ve done
enjoy the moment
exactly where they are
just a little bit longer
—
‘Say Anything,’ (1989) is my favorite teen rom-com-drama movie
the movie follows the romance between Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), an average student, and Diane Court (Ione Skye), the class valedictorian, immediately after their graduation from high school.
in 2002, Entertainment Weekly named Say Anything the best modern romance film, and in 2012, ranked it number 11 on its list of the “50 Best High School Movies.”
—
credits: 20th Century Fox
Aug5
to look forward and not back, to look out and not in, and to lend a hand. -edward e. hale
this past weekend i took part in a ‘shop with a cop’ event
sponsored by
mott children’s hospital,
the county sheriff department, local police departments, state troopers,
u.s. marines, and the university of michigan police department
everyone volunteered their time
to take underserved children and their families
back to school shopping at a local meijer store.
it was beautifully organized
we all met in the morning at the stadium
set up food, games, drinks, tables
met our law enforcement partners for the day
families arrived
we shared a meal with our family and created our shopping team
loaded up on university busses
accompanied by motorcycle cops with lights flashing
the kids were really excited.
when we arrived
we descended upon the store
masses of uniformed officers and children
must have caused some shoppers to wonder
but everyone got right to work
helping the kids find the things on their lists
along with lots of extras
at checkout everything was covered
headed back to the stadium
for kona ice, more food, build-a-bear projects, face-painting
checking out the team locker room and playing on the field
by the end of the day
we had shared our stories with each other
learned so much
everyone had bonded
no matter their age, rank, or status.
people were tired and smiling
as they walked out the door
ready for school
headed for home
happy to know
people in the community support them
as a volunteer
this day
was also a gift to me from my community.
“there isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.”
-mary lou kownacki
Jun12
the time of my life.
what a wonderful retirement celebration
with sweet surprises galore
very kind words from friends/colleagues
comedy, a musical serenade, lunch together
songs i wrote with our music teacher made into a beautiful book
a fab dance act from my favorite movie
an explosion of glitter
book of words, poems, haiku, photos, glittered pages, memories, hopes
and of course
so many wonderful pinatas
you can never have too many
filled with special things for my journeys ahead.
they know me so very well
thank you one and all
i had the time of my life.
“always surround yourself with people who inspire you to be a better person.”
-d. denise dianty
Apr18
small cheer.
a pop-up restaurant appeared in the cozy corner of our classroom
everyone was welcome and helped in the restaurant after their meal
so many delicious foods
made with care
no one left hungry
people came and went and shared plates and talked and laughed
it was a feast for the senses.
—
“small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.”
-william shakespeare
Apr11
kinder-garden.
today the kinder saw the space where they will create their garden.
—
“why try to explain miracles to your children when you can have them plant a garden?”
-*janet kilburn phillips
*Janet is a gardener who found that she had to employ a growth mindset when she moved to the United States from England. She had previously been creating English cottage gardens but encountered challenges when she tried to grow them in a drastically different climate and in heavy clay soil. After experimenting with her gardens she created a CD called English Cottage Gardening — American Style. She adapted and persevered and found a new way to succeed at something that she loved.
Apr6
here we go!
“april hath put a spirit of youth in everything.”
-william shakespeare
Feb12
paper cut.
at the store in aisle seven
looking over things for my classroom
this came into view
let me double check,
no,
guillotine not on my wishlist.
—
“ever since my childhood, i was haunted by the search for perfection.
an imperfectly cut paper literally made me ill. i would guillotine it.”
-hans arp, french-german sculptor, painter, and collagist
Jan24
reports.
—
spending the recent past writing report cards
for the kinder
always a fascinating trip down memory lane
seeing how far they’ve come already
an unlimited distance still to go
the good, the bad, and the unexplained
all the good hearts, dramas, tears, and laughs
each their very own person
learning as we go.
all of us.
—
*more of frank the puppy’s report card:
“We sent him there because he is truly the most energetic puppy I have ever met,” his mom told Newsweek. “Our older dog needed a break,” she joked.
When Frank came home with the report card, she was in stitches. “I thought it was hysterical when I saw it because I can only imagine that Frank is probably the class clown that’ll do anything for a laugh and that’s definitely his idea of the best time,” she said.
Described on the card as the “life of the party,” the report also says that Frank loved wrestling with his buddies.
“It makes my heart so happy to know that he has so many pals at preschool,” said Spahr. Working on etiquette skills in his preschool class, the report also told Frank’s owners that his best friends are Daisy, Cooper, Vader, Hudson, and even a dog named Angus Beef.
—
“my report card always said, ‘jim finishes first and then disrupts the other students.”
-jim carrey
—
credits: newsweek magazine uk, alice gibbs
Oct19
choose wisely.
no matter how tired you are
when coming into the faculty room
to grab a cup of coffee
at the start of another day
look closely at the flavorings offered
choose wisely.
what will it be today?
caramel? chocolate? or bleach water?
—
“once you make a choice, you have no choice.”
-anna chin-williams
—
photo credit: c. hull – thank you!
